My "beef" with the ACT!

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
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<p>First of all, I've heard "beef" used in slang before, but I don't know if that is the spelling they use, nor do I know if I used it in the correct context, but I think you get what I mean anyway. :)</p>

<p>Anyway, my problem is this: In the English section, for example, there are 75 questions which are converted to a 36 scale. What bothers me is that if you get 1 of the 75 questions incorrect, it will count as one full scaled point, when in reality, it should only reduce your scaled score by .48 of a point. This ****es me off. One wrong should still be rounded to a 36 since it would technically bring your score to a 35.52. </p>

<p>Does this irritate anyone else?</p>

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<p>they should just have minus 10 as a 36 :D. that'd be even better.</p>

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<p>i wouldnt complain english ACT is made easy enough, one of reasons taking it instead of SAT</p>

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<p>I think the SAT english section is easier than ACT English + Reading, imo</p>

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<p>well depends on how well you know your vocabulary, i dont know it very well for example so...</p>

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<p>It's fair because everyone is graded on the same scale :D</p>

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<p>SillBill, you must obviously not score well in math.</p>

<p>So are you saying if the ACT ENG consisted of only 10 questions each question is worth 3.6 points? thus if you missed one your score would be a 32.4? (That's the same type of comparison you are making in an extreme fashion.)</p>

<p>Standardized Test Scores are based on the bell curve. This graph shows that most of the people score inside the bell curve while the two extremes denote lower %s. Also, a 35 and a 36 both have a percentile rating of 99 and the only difference between a 35 and a 36 is the carelessness.</p>

<p>Hope that made sense.</p>

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<p>It kind of sucks that the ACT English is scored the way it is. When you have 75 questions, your chances of making a careless mistake increase dramatically. Then again, everyone is being scored on the same scale, so in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter. ACT probably scores the English the way it does because if it were weighted properly, too many people would only miss one and still get a 36.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
What bothers me is that if you get 1 of the 75 questions incorrect, it will count as one full scaled point, when in reality, it should only reduce your scaled score by .48 of a point. This ****es me off. One wrong should still be rounded to a 36 since it would technically bring your score to a 35.52.

[/quote]
If they did as you suggest, it would not be a scaled score, it would simply be a "percentage" right times 36. Despite the sayings of all the people who "know," scaling is not done by starting everyone off with at 36 and then "taking off points." It is accomplished by first giving everyone a raw score and then analyzing the distribution of scores. From that a scale is developed.</p>

<p>If the total procedure was as you described, it would be easier to just start you with a 75 and take off one point for every wrong answer. Those scores, however, would not take into account the difficulty of the test or the strength of the application group, things that scaling adjusts for, so a 35 this year means the same thing as a 35 two years ago.</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
This graph shows that most of the people score inside the bell curve while the two extremes denote lower %s

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Good thought, but just one detail. All the people score inside the bell curve. What you are referring to is that most people score + or - one standard deviation from the mean (66%). As you approach the extremes of the curve, the number of people who achieve each score becomes very small.</p>